“Just Do Something” is rarely an effective strategy for solving problems. When a problem arises, there can be a urge to “just do something” because then at least you’re not just sitting still. It’s feels like you’re making progress towards a solution, but that’s not always the case. Hemingway talks about “never mistake motion for progress” and Shane Parrish talks about “velocity vs. speed.” So rather than jumping into action, you should pause and use your brain to make sure your actions are the best option to make progress against the problem, not just “something”.
HOWEVER, there are situations where “just do something” is the right approach. I think if the below conditions apply, then this is the right strategy.
- Negligible Information: When solving a problem it’s best to gather some information on the situation, develop a hypothesis, and think through the impact (what will the side effects be? does this course of action really solve our root issue or just a symptom? Is it worth the costs?). However, if you have little to no information from which to build a hypothesis, then you cannot do this. By definition, you would need MORE information in order to form a thoughtful hypotheses. “Doing something,” without intention or reason, while unlikely to solve your problem, will at least provide you some feedback and information about the situation Which could then lead to a better solution.
- Ability to Correct: Even if you do not know whether the proposed solution will solve the problem, you should take care it doesn’t make the problem worse. You should ask yourself how reversible is this course of action if we move forward. Ideally, you should be able to reverse or mitigate any impacts when moving on a course of action.
So be thoughtful when you “do something.” Be mindful of whether your actions are the result of well-reasoned hypotheses or if you need to act to gain more information.
Intergalactic Dance 